Throttle-operating mechanism for locomotives



Aug. 14, 1923.

Filed May 22 Patented Aug, 14, 1923.

CHARLES THOMAS PHIPPS, OF SALTVILLE, VIRGINIA.

THROTTLE-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed May 22, 1922. Serial No. 562,815.

To all whom it may concern: r I

Be it known that I, CHARLES THouAs PHIrPs, a citizenof the United States, re siding at Saltville, inthe county of Smyth and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Throttle- Operating Mechanisms for Locomotives, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawmgs. p

This invention relates to locomotives or other apparatus having throttlevalves, and particularly to mechanism for operating the throttle valves thereof.

In a locomotive the throttle valve is operated by a rod disposed within the locomotive boiler and operatively connected to the throttle valve, which in turn is disposed within the steam dome of the boiler, and this throttle'rod must, of'necessity, extend out through one end of the boiler and through the boiler sheet in order that it may be connected to operating means convenient to the engineer. Ordinarily, one or more packing glands are used through which the operating rod extends and whenever it is necessary to re-pack these glands the boiler has to be blown off. Inasmuch as it takes two or three tons of coal to it is obvious that the blowing off of this steamin order to re-pack the throttle valve rod is relatively costly.

The general object of my invention is to provide a mounting for the operating rod of the throttle valve which shall not involve the use of any packing and, therefore, not involve the renewal of the packing.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character which is of such character that all wear due to the operation of the throttle valve actuating mechanism is taken up and which at all times remains tight and prevents any loss of time on the throttle operating rod or shaft.

Other objects will appear in the course of V the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein igure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a locomotive with my device applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locomotive and my improved throttle valve mechanism, the top of the dome being omitted;

get steam on a boiler,-

Figure 3 is an stare earner earners;

enlarged sectional view through the throttle valve actuating mechanisin.

Referring to these drawings, A the usual boiler of'a locomotive designates and B the dry pipe thereof.- Coacting with this dry pipe is the usual throttle valve :0. This is carried by a bell crank lever D, in turn connected by a rod E to the throttle valve actuating mechanism. So far I have illustrated and described an ordinary throttle valve disposed in the usual steam dome.

purpose of reciprocating the rod or open the throttle valve, I pro- For the E to close vide a vertical shaft or rod 10 which extends downward through the two horizontally disposed webs 11 mounted or annular portion 12 at the rear boiler, this shaft carrying at its. the lever 13 and at its lowerend in a dome end of the upper end within the boiler having appliedthereto the arm la the rod E. Ihe webs 11 are 'which is pivotally or otherwise connected to apertured, as

at 15, the walls of these apertures being up wardly beveled,

and mounted upon the shaft 10 and rotatable therewith are the conical bearing members 16 which have ground faces and have a steam-tight engagement with the ground faces of the wal the openings 15.

Surrounding the shaft 10 and bearing at ls defining its lower end against the upper web 11 and bearing at its upper end against t he lever 13 is a coiled spring 17 under compression.

This spring hearing at the upper web 11 urges and, therefore, urges the shaft its lower end against 10 upward the conical bearing members 16 into close engagement with the apertures through the webs 11. as these apertures have ground these conical bearing members, 1t

Inasmuch 7 seats for is obvious that all wear will be taken up by the upward pressure of the spring and that as fast as the seats 15 wear, the correspo ical members will. be forced upw spring so that'the apertures thro nding con ard by the ugh which the shaft 10 passes will be at all times closed against escaping steam and that be no necessity of renewing any during the life of the members there will packing 16. Thus there will be no necessity of discharging the steam from the boiler in order the glands through which to re-pack the throttle operating rod passes, but that this throttle operating rod will be properly kept i n a steam- 16 may be made of bronze, brass, steel or any other desired material. The same material may be used for the webs 11. These members l6'may be formed upon the shaft which carries the members or be separately formed and applied to the shaft. While I have illustrated a lever-like handle whereby the shaft carrying the conical bearing memloersmay be operatechldo not wish to be limited to this as it is obvious that any other desired means might be used for operating this shaft 10.

It will be obvious that changes might be made in the detailed construction and arrangement of parts and the material from which the parts are made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A locomotive boiler having an annular member attached to the locomotive wall, a plurality of webs crossing said annular meinbensaid webs beingapertured, a throttle valve disposed in theboiler, an operating rod therefor within the boiler, and an actuating shaft for the rod operatively conneeted thereto and extending through the apertures in said webs and provided with means at its outer end whereby it may be oscillated, a pair of conical bearing members carried upon said shaft and fitting the apertures in said webs, and a spring urging said shaft outward and the bearing members into engagement with theiwalls' of the apertures, the contacting faces of the walls of the apertures and the conical bearing members being ground. 7 V

2. A locomotive boiler having at its rear end an upwardly projecting, annular. portion surrounding the opening through the tures, the contacting faces of the walls of the apertures and the conical bearing 1nem bers being ground.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaffix signature.

CHAS. THOMAS PHIPPS. 

